preparations to ensure you and your dog enjoy a fun summer holiday

So you’ve booked your holiday, found the perfect dog-friendly accommodation in your dream
location, and now it’s time to make those final plans before setting off on your well-earned break.
Holidaying with your dog completes the experience and ensures your canine best friend isn’t left out, but he needs to be as well prepared for the holiday as you are to make sure you have the time of your lives, rather then a holiday horror!

Preparing for travel
A quick check-up visit at the vets now will give you the peace of mind of knowing your dog is healthy and no foreseeable issues are likely to arise when you are away.
Make sure your dog is happy in the car. If he’s not, practice short car journeys before you embark on a long one. Plan your route. Work out where service stations are, or where you will stop on the way. Try to travel when the roads are likely to be quieter, to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Contact your holiday accommodation and find out what dog-friendly services they provide,
and also any rules they may have about dogs. These could include areas where the dog is allowed to go, whether dogs are allowed on furniture if they are permitted to stay in rooms on their own, access to grounds, and whether they can go off-lead. Find out if there is somewhere specific for your dog to go to the toilet, and if there is somewhere you can wash your dog if he gets muddy. If you are staying in a hotel or guest house, you need to know if there is a restaurant or bar where you can eat with your dog.
Ask for photos of the room. Arriving to find pure-white, crisp sheets and immaculate pale carpets are
something you need to prepare for (and bring coverings and blankets).

It’s also good to inquire about local walks and dog-friendly places to visit, the proximity of livestock, whether there are resident dogs (or cats!) if there are other dogs visiting local dog-friendly pubs, cafes, and places to eat. If your venue can’t help, contact the local tourist information office. This way you can plan your days to ensure they include your dog.
Obtain details of the local veterinary practice, including its out-of-hours service, which will be useful if your dog has a problem while you’re staying in the area. You can also contact your microchip company and tell them you are going to be away, giving them the dates and address, just in case.